Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) is set to return to the Senate this week, after a nearly three-month absence as she recovered from shingles, according to a spokesperson for the senator.
Thank god. Hope it’s true.
This constituent says she just needs to resign. Now.
This is not driven by ageism or sexism. She is not serving the people of California in her diminished condition.
Ro Khanna
And her resigning would accomplish what? Her judiciary committee seat still wouldn’t get filled. Her replacement wouldn’t provide the necessary votes to move any debt ceiling bill to cloture.
Silly me, expecting a modicum of decency from Senate Republicans.
If you did… then yes.
Hopefully this stops all the calling for her resignation.
She hugs Linsdeyagain… well then we’ll talk 
I’m inferring that you would find it preferable to have her there, in some sentient form (a la Brazil?) to perhaps cast some meaningful votes - the importance of which she may or not be aware.
No need to infer, I’ll say it explicitly:
I would prefer she be there so that—even if she’s only partly aware of why—she can vote in accordance with her party (as will almost certainly be her wont), and so the Senate Judiciary Committee can do things like approve recommendations for judicial appointment and Biden can get back to filling seats on the Federal bench before 2025.
Because in every other scenario, the SJC is basically paralyzed until January of 2025 (when there is no guarantee that we hold the Senate, remember… there is never a guarantee), and the process of getting judges appointed becomes much longer, much more difficult, and requires Republican cooperation that will not be coming.
This also gives Durbin back subpoena power in case he decides to use it on people like Harlan Crow, or even Great-Uncle Thomas.
Wasn’t it Senator Jesse Helms ( R ), who in his last several years was wheeled into committee hearings and the Senate, and other Republicans basically raised his hand to vote “Aye” or “Nay” as suited their agenda? He was near vegetative, but the Republicans made it work for them.
That was Strom Thurmond. Same difference.
They should of done Weekend at Bernie’s with Ruth Bader Ginsberg. She passed in late September 2020- they only needed about 6 weeks until election day.
If she does resign, it would put Newsom in a bit of a spot. There are currently three people in Congress who are actively seeking her seat next year so, who does he appoint? Does he play favorites and pick one of those three, knowing that whoever he picks will probably keep the seat once they’ve been appointed to it or, does he try to find someone to just fill the position but who won’t try to be elected to it next year?
Also, if he appoints anyone from the House to take that seat, that gives Republicans slightly more power in the House by increasing their majority by one more seat.
Decisions, decisions…
Just remember: if Feinstein doesn’t retire and the campaigns have to play out… all three leave the House, because they can’t run for House and Senate at the same time.
At this point I don’t care if it’s her staff deciding how she votes and helps her do that, which has probably been the case for a while now anyway.
The votes will support Biden and the Democratic party and that’s enough. That is, if she can continue full attendance where those votes are required. Benefit of the doubt says she wouldn’t have agreed to return if she couldn’t keep a full schedule, so we’ll see.
He’s on record as promising to appoint a woman of color: Barbara Lee (my rep) would be perfect for that. Hard to imagine another woman of color (Bass?) agreeing to be a placeholder. Big Katie Porter fan here, so tough call. Schiff would be OK.
“God dammit, Janet!”
“She hugs Linsdey again… well then we’ll talk.”
She already hugged Lindsey the one time it hurt the most. Who cares whether she hugs him again — that is entirely beside the point. BTW, why do you think she hugged her good friend Lindsey back then, by your understanding — did he deserve that hug in your own view, for his conduct at those hearings? Or was someone’s cognitive functioning impaired even then? If not, then I guess we would just be talking about her judgment — as if merely questioning her judgment would be much better than the alternative.
